Germans anticipate Operation Valkyrie

And I thought that Tom Cruise's new film, Valkyrie, would only be important for his own future career. It seems that Germans have been holding their collective breath in anticipation of the film. Der Spiegel reports that Operation Walküre (the German title) has inspired heated debate for the past two years, particularly since Germans hope that a major Hollywood production will finally show the world the face of the "other Germany".
The Frankfurter Allgemeine wrote in 2007 that Cruise's film could "shape the picture of Germany throughout the world for decades". That seems a hysterical reaction to the potential impact of the film--particularly if it tanks.
Ultimately, Valkyrie is a vehicle for its star, and Cruise has no pretentions to reshape perceptions of German historical identity. In fact, the von Stauffenberg of the film is a convinced anti-Nazi and honorable to his core. In contrast, the real Stauffenberg wrote home to his wife from Poland, describing the population as "unbelievable rabble, many Jews and many half-breeds. A people that prefers living under the whip. The thousands of prisoners will be great for our rural economy."